| You shouldn’t have been drinking and driving, but | | | | to determine where you would best receive care for |
| now that you've been caught, you've already realized | | | | your problem. |
| this at least. | | | | Depending on the level of abuse or dependency, you |
| When arrested for driving over legal limit for alcohol or | | | | may well not require inpatient rehab; and an intense |
| under the influence of drugs, you might want to | | | | participation in group support meetings, in AA or |
| question your substance abuse behaviors, and | | | | another 12 steps program; or in sessions with a |
| determine if your DUI arrest is only a symptom of a | | | | therapist, may be enough structured support for you to |
| larger problem. Some people do drive drunk as an | | | | better your problem. |
| isolated and regrettable incident, for whatever reasons; | | | | If you realize that due to the length or severity of your |
| but for many people, a DUI conviction serves as a | | | | addiction, or because of other factors like a |
| wakeup call to the extent of a problem with drugs or | | | | co-occurring mental disorder you need more intensive |
| alcohol. | | | | treatment, a residential facility may offer you a better |
| A DUI can be a great thing if no one gets hurt and | | | | chance to sobriety. It's a good idea to get some |
| your arrest and trouble with the law sparks a real | | | | advice if you are unsure as to your treatment needs, |
| commitment to change and gets you to initiate | | | | and a single session with an addictions therapist may |
| treatment. Although getting healthy and getting sober is | | | | be all that is required for an accurate diagnosis of the |
| surely benefit enough, you also gain favor in the eyes | | | | problem, and a recommendation for appropriate |
| of a judge at sentencing time if you have admitted to | | | | treatment. |
| a problem, and also taken serious steps to remedy | | | | Don't wait for yet more tragedy |
| your substance abuse behaviors. | | | | If you can use a DUI towards personal change and a |
| You may even convince a judge that your isolated | | | | better life of sobriety then your arrest becomes a |
| incident stemmed directly out of your substance abuse | | | | blessing. Realize that your drinking or drugging has |
| problems, and that as you are receiving treatment you | | | | begun to cause you serious problems, and take a |
| no longer pose a threat to re-offend, and the very | | | | good hard look at your level of use. If there is a |
| best sentence for you would be imposed and | | | | problem, it's not going to go away on its own, and you |
| mandated continuing care for your abuse problems. | | | | have a great opportunity to help yourself in two ways. |
| Getting help after a DUI | | | | Help yourself to minimize the legal repercussions of |
| Once you can no longer ignore the extent of your | | | | your arrest, as you also help yourself live a better life |
| problems with substance abuse or addiction, and once | | | | free from the pains of abuse. |
| faced with legal repercussions of your use, you need | | | | |